WiseDeeMan

What people miss in this stuff is the power of having great people and leaders at the club. Something we have lacked in. It's not just match day that counts, it's the leadership and development of the younger guys, training standards throughout the week, team meetings etc. Plus if its for nothing in exchange, he's great insurance for onfield.

Just had it confirmed from the Suns side “the deal” will go through and Trac will be a suns player next year - I didn’t ask much more out of respect, even though I’m ****ty I didn’t! My gut feel was it will be picks in exchange.

I woke at 5 : 19 am this morning. It's a sign. Lock him in

I also find it interesting how upset people are that we are trading him. He almost single handedly derailed the entire club and our potential opportunity to win multiple flags. It's well documented that Goodwin and co gave him special treatment for a long long time to the detriment of club culture (he got away with what most would not), and tolerated what should not have been. Im sure everyone wished nothing but the best, but King coming in it has to be goodbye to all the culture killers.

Let’s be honest everyone - a poor man’s Jake Bowey anyway

Another layer to add to this is also the Geelong side of it. You all of a sudden have the head coach of an opposition team with full access to your club still. The way I see it, is it speaks volume of the character of King and the culture of Geelong that he wanted to see it out. In almost all other situations the new coach has left the team playing deep into September to hang out to dry somewhat. Something I've always thought is a massive disadvantage, and frankly unfair. To me it shows his integrity and how strong of a club Geelong is that he wants to stay there with them to finish what he's started.

Lots of hypotheticals here so let's go with it....It's pretty obvious he isn't 100% invested in the club. I think we are actually in a fantastic position with this and have all the bargaining power. We've shown we are willing to hold him to his contract for starters. Secondly, that's now forced him to open up and realise if he is to get a "clean start", unless the club can get something in return, they won't trade him. For me the GC are the club we should be pursuing to do a deal with. Draft picks mean a totally different thing to them as it does to Victorian Clubs. They know they are going to continue to get high talent through their academy. From our perspective, we have to keep in mind we have 2 more year of draft before Tassie come in and its compromised. We need to load up on young talent now in my view. Whilst i think Langford will be a star, Lindsay looks like he could be the same, Windsor is promising, I don't think anything else is certain. I like Kolt, but have not seen anything yet that has shown me he is going to make it. If we somehow can get 3-4 first round picks in the next 2 drafts we are well set up if we nail another 3 of the 4. The GC have pick 6, 13, 16, future firsts and Flanders to play with, while we have Trac, pick 23, and some late picks for their academy bids. I cannot see any other club getting us anything remotely as good as that, unless we are part of a 3 club trade to land a fish of similar value to Trac. If we want WIN / WIN, Suns look like the best option (at this stage!). Exciting times

Guerra said on Radio this morning - we will move forward with our “TWO” assistant coaches. Assuming 1 is definitely leaving… We’ve heard Richmond are into Chaplin Has anything been announced?

Agree @binman …I’ve been fortunate to train with many elite level athletes including many Olympians. I’ve been in squads that have had Olympic athletes, athletes that weren’t quite at that level, and others that were no where near it. Same coach, same message, same program, yet some were multiple Olympic Gold medalists, and others - nobodies. So what was the difference? I mean yes we can talk physical advantages - but I can largely say its application (mindset). Willing to push themselves more than anyone else. Day in day out. Never excuses. With the down days, the drop off is minimal. I vividly remember one morning, one of Australia’s greatest athletes that everyone would know, pushing himself so much he projectile vomited. Took a few deep breaths and then went again for the next rep of the main set. While most others in the squad, were just not willing to go to that level (maybe they were the sensible ones!). There is an interesting paradox however - This particular coach here, would either make or break athletes. He had Olympic Gold Medalists, but would burn out a hundred other athletes to get that 1. The art of being a great coach in any area, is being able to effectively influence each athlete, or in this case, player. It’s the ability to get the most out of each individual, not just a portion. To know what buttons to push. And that is a different skill set than the programming piece. Purely an opinion from the outside here, but based on what ive seen (relying on footage) - this is where Burgess seems elite. It’s the ‘coach’ side of him that gets the buy in from each and every player. This is where the gold lies in my view. We had mental toughness about us at that time. From what I see currently - we now don’t. Whether this is all tied together here, I do not know, but my guess is it is. Time will tell…

When Burgess was departing the club, I happened to be talking to a mate who is working as part of a strength & conditioning team at another AFL club. I asked him - “Burgess is well known to be the number 1 man in the industry, outside of him, who is the next best rated? His answer surprised me. He said, “you’ve already got him - Selwyn Griffith”. I agree, fitness was an issue, but remember they don’t run the whole thing. There was a clear message at the start of preseason. Day 1 - normally we do 2km time trial and straight into heavy fitness. This year - it was more viewed to work on building the love as the priority early on. Maybe the consequence of rebuilding connection was a little less fitness. And a little less might make all the difference. So maybe it might be a time for change, but I wouldn’t point the fitness problem just at him.

Anyone saying bad timing, why now, makes no sense. It’s perfect timing. In business if you decide to move on from someone, the best time to finish is immediately. Out of respect to him, and the best thing for the organisation. We do it any later than now, knowing we aren’t going with him next year, would be lunacy. He’s been a great coach for us and should be always respected for that, and now is the time to start building out next premiership

I think the most disturbing fact is the overwhelming majority of players have either declined, or simply not improved at all.. Bowey and Kozzy have been outstanding. Chandler and Turner have improved, and ironically Melksham has also improved. But outside of this, I’m struggling to find anyone else? For me, all of the following regulars; Trac, Oliver, Viney, Salem, Rivers, May, Lever, JVR, Sparrow, Petty, Fritsch, McVee, Windsor, Tholstrup and Langdon have all individually declined from their best football. That is damning I’d love you guys to go through each of our regular seniors and give a one word answer - improved, same or declined.

I mean I don’t want to lose him but let’s not get hysterical over it. The thing that annoys me in a situation like this if it comes true is West Coast and Freo didn’t draft him and had the chance. We’ve drafted him and developed him and given him the opportunity to be where he is today, and then the first contract post that “I’m home sick”. Let’s hope it’s all BS.

What an album!

https://youtu.be/3uh5SE24RNg This guy knows his stuff - watch this! If this happens I’m doing a nudie run Has us with Jagga at 5 and Langford at 9